Investigation into Milton Keynes mental health unit where woman died in seclusion unit

The mother of a woman who died while in the care of the Campbell Centre fears lessons have not been learned as it was revealed the managing NHS trust is being investigated by a health watchdog.

Anne Jenkins’ daughter Helen Wills died in May 2012 when she was kept in a seclusion room at the Standing Way centre.

Helen Willis who died in May 2012 when she was kept in a seclusion room at the Campbell Centre

An inquest into Miss Wills’ death in November that year heard Helen, who suffered from schizophrenia, had been sedated and placed in the seclusion room after an aggressive outburst.

The inquest found there had been inadequate observation in the hours before her death. The coroner gave a verdict of sudden adult death syndrome.

Now, following two inspections at the centre by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) where serious concerns were raised about staff and procedures, health regulator Monitor is investigating managing trust, the Central North West London (CNWL) NHS Foundation Trust to establish whether there are wider problems with how it is run.

Mrs Jenkins said: “Nothing has changed – all you get is ‘we have lessons to learn’ but they don’t learn.

“I want the staff there to be fully trained and qualified because I don’t think they are. I could not understand half of them because their English is not good enough.

“How many more times do we have to hear that somebody has died? People are not being cared for in there.

“It has been two years since Helen died and it has made no difference at all to them. They should close it down until they get people in who know what they are doing.”

The CQC inspection report focused on five areas where there were failings. These included involving patients in their own care and caring for people safely and protecting them from harm

Victoria Woodhatch, senior regional manager at Monitor, said: “We have decided to open an investigation at the trust to identify if there are any problems with the way the trust is run that would prevent it providing high quality care for patients.

“Our investigation will take a very close look at the issues highlighted by the CQC; and we will take regulatory action if required.”

CNWL chief executive Claire Murdoch said: “The Monitor process is actually a good way for our systems to be checked, refreshed, and even strengthened.”